Luggage gtiaed



(No Model.)

B. M. ARM S. LUGGAGE GUARD. No. 246,444. Patented Aug. 30,1881.

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'NITED, STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

BIGELOVV M. ARMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LUGGAGE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 246,444, dated August 30, 1881.

' Application filed August 4, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BIGELOW M. ABMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Luggage Guards or Attachments for Trunks and'Satchels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved baggage-guard for attachment to a trunk or valise, by means of which the name and address of the owner of such property can at any time be readily determined, and hence, in case of the loss or miscarriage of such baggage, the baggage-master or other employ or person on or on the road finding the same can with certainty determine the owners name and address, and hence return the property.

To such end my improvement consists in a device applicable to trunks and valises, and constructed as hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, in which Figurel is a perspective view of a baggageguard constructed in accordance with my invention and with the lid open. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with the lid closed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View ofthe same with a slightly Fig. 4 is a like view of Fig. 3 with the lid closed. Fig. 5 shows a device similar to Fig. 3, but with an oval base-plate. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of Fig. 2 somewhat enlarged.

The letter A indicates a sheet-metal plate, which constitutes the base-plate of the device, and which is adapted to be secured to a trunk or valise, the means herein shown for thus securing the said plate consisting in a series of marginal perforations formed around the same, and through which nails or screws can be passed and driven or screwed into the article of baggage. The central portion, a, of this plate, which is utilized as a seat or receptacle for a card or cards, is bounded on three of its sides by the continuous bead B, which is struck up by dies, leaving a marginal flange around the outer edge of the base-plate, in which the perforations are formed for attaching the device, as above mentioned. The fourth side of the said seat is not bound by a continuous head, but, as herein illustrated, is bounded by two or more short ribs, 0 c, which are likewise (No model.)

struck up from the sheet-metal plate. It will thus be seen that a shallow seat having a flat bottom is provided for receiving the card, the said bead and ribs constituting guards for the edges of the card or cards, as the case may be.

D indicates an imperforate sheet-metal lid or cap-plate, which is permanently hinged along one. ofits longitudinal edges to the baseplate, so that it can be swung outwardly away from the same or swung inward upon the baseplate in order to close the card seat or receptacle, and thus secure the card placed therein against abrasion and accidental removal. This cap-plate is formed along its free or unattached edges with the beveled or inclined flanges d d, that are adapted to tit over the beads of the base-plate when the lid is closed, the width of the flanges being so proportioned to the height of the head that when the lid is in a closed position the edges of the flanges will lie closely upon the base-plate outside of the bead, thereby forming a continuous close joint, which will eii'e'ctivel y prevent the entrance of water, dust, and cinde'rs intothe card-receptacle, and at the same time impart a neat and attractive appearance to the device. The said flanges have an outward flare, so that they wilLflt snugly over the outer rounded side of the bead; but at a point about midway of the length of the flange that is opposite to the binge-edge of the cap-plate a portion, d, ot'the flange d is turned down at right angles to the plate and formed with a longitudinal slot, 01 the slotted lip thus formed constituting the catch-plate for the locking device employed to fasten down the hinged lid.

A slot, E, is formed through the base-plate and a portion of its bead to receive the slotted catch-plate, and a locking device permanently located upon the base-plate is employed for engaging the said catch-plate. This locking device consists of a spring catch or boltarranged within a struck-up sheet-metal lock-case, G, which is provided upon its under side with a suitable number of spurs, preferably two, and secured to the base-plate by passing these spurs through perforations in the base -plate, and then either turning them down upon the bottom of the latter or adapting them to come flush with the surface thereof, and securing them by brazing or other suitable means The the catch can be forced back againstthe spring pressure and out from the slot of the catch-plate.

In order to permanently hinge the flanged cap-plate to the base-plate, and to admit of its being freely swung toward or outward and away from the same, I provide the pintle sockets H H, which are struck up from the baseplate at points between the short ribs 0, so that the spaces between said ribs will be closed by thepintlesockets. Ihave herein shown spaces between the bead and the two end ribs of the series, these spaces beingclosed by shortcorner pintle-soekets, which receive the ends of the hinge-pin tle I,which passes through the sockets of the base-plate, and also through the pintlesockets K struck up at the edge of the lid. By this alternate arrangement of ribs and pintlesockets on the base-plate it will be seen that where it is necessary to cut away the metal in order to leave a space for the pintle-socket of the lid to work in the metal so cut away is simply turned up to form a rib.

The owner of the trunk or valise can by placing and securing his addressed card in the aforesaid receptacle insure the safety of his baggage, since in case of its being miscarried the baggage'master or other ofiicial can open the lid, inspect the card, and hence beintormed as to where he should return the article.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown a device of this nature and construction, but having a slot formed through thelid. In such case the owner of the article can use two cardsthe outer one, which will be constantly in View, simply having the destination of the baggage thereon, and the inner card bearing an inscription of his residence. Thusit'the article of baggage having the guard secured thereto and thus pro vided with cards becomes lost, the baggagemaster or other official can open the lid and inspect the second or rear card and forward the baggage to its owner.

It will be observed thatin Fig. 1 I have dispensed with the shortribs 0 c, the pintle-sockets 0f the base-plate and of thelid constituting one of the sides of the card-seat. These ribs may also be dispensed with in the baggage-guard shown in Figs. 3 and 4, if preferred.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the base-plate made oval in outline, this form being preferable in some instances especially for the smaller class of baggage, such as valises.

Heretofore frames have been provided with hinged covers for holding cards, said frames being constructed for application to trunks, valises, boxes, &c., and therefore my invention is designed as an improvement in such art.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim is l. The combination, in a baggage-guard, of the herein-described sheet-metal base-plate, having a bead struck up therefrom to form sides of a card-seat, leaving a flange around its edge, with the sheetmetal cover hinged along one edge to the base-plate, and formed along three of its edges with a flange adapted to fit over and rest upon the head when the lid is closed, and a suitable fastening device, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a baggage-guard, of the herein-described sheet-metal base, having a bead to form sides of a card-seat and a marginal flange provided with a fastening device, with the sheet-metal cover hinged along one edge to the base-plate, and having at its upper edge the inwardly-turned portion d, perforated to engage the fastening device on the base-plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BlGEL()\V M. ARMS.

itnesses:

ALBERT H. Nonars, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD. 

